Lubricating apparatus



. Feb. 9, 1937. E. w. DAVIS LUBRICATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 1, 1935 mier 6 276265 Q/ffiddds' %c dajiz Patented Feb. 9,1937

LUBRICATING S PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS Ernest W. DavisfOak Park, Ill.,assignor to Stewart-Warner Corporation, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Virginia H Application November 1,

1935, Serial N6. 47,764

My invention relates generally to lubricating. apparatus, and moreparticularly to installations of lubricant compressors in relativelylarge serv- .-ice stations, garages, and the like, where a plu- 5 ralityof high pressure lubricant outlets are supplied with lubricant underpressure from two or morelubricant compressors.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved high pressurelubricant supply installation whereby a plurality of lubricantcompressors may be operated bya single motor and the operation of themotor controlled by the pressure of the lubricant in the conduitssupplied by each'of the compressors.

Other objects will appeariroin the following description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing,'which diagrammatically shows twolubricant compressors operated by a single motor, and illustrates awiring diagram for the motor. a

The invention comprises a pair of compressors l8 and I2, each'having alubricant reservoir M, a high pressure cylinder l8, a reciprocatingplunger 13, and an outlet check valve 28. The plungers it arereciprocated by means of cams or eccentrics 22 carried on the ends ofshafts 24 and 26 respectively. The lubricant compressors l8 and 12 maybe used to supply the same at different kinds of lubricant through highpressure mains 28' and 38 respectively. Suitable discharge conduits'32are connected to the mains. and

38, the flow of the lubricant through these discharge conduits beingcontrolled by manually. operated valves 38 which may be oi any suitable'construction and which are, provided -with-suit-' able couplers .38iormaking a detachable lubricant-tight connection with lubricantreceiving fittings attached to bearings to -be lubricated.

IThe compressors are operated by an electric mof io'ftor 38 whichthrough a worm 48 drives a worm wheel 82, the latter being'secured. toahousing M mounted tor rotation in suitable bearings 48 andcarrying-planetary bevel pinions 48. The bevel pinions 88 mesh with abevel gear 50 secured to t the shaft :24 and .bevel gear 52 secured tothe shaft 28; The motor is thus capable of driving 7 I either or bothoi! the shafts 24, 26 through this diflerential gearing. In the eventthat the lubricant compressor III has built up a high back presso sin-ehits main", the motor will drive the compresser l2 at an increased rateand vice versa.

Current issupplied to the motor from a suitable source connected to theswitch 54. One pole of the switch 54 is connected by a conductor 58 to aterminal of the motor. Theother pole of the mum pressure switchisconnected by wires 58 and 60 to contact arms 82 and 64 of pressurecontrolled switches 66 and 68 respectively. The other contacts of thepressure controlled switches 68, 68 are connected by conductors l0, l2,and 14 with the other terminal of the motor 38. From this diagram itwill be seen that the pressure controlled switches 66 and 68 areconnected in parallel in the circuit supplying current to the motor.Each of the pressure controlled switches 66, 68 comprises a cylinder 18connected to the pressure main 28, 30, and has a piston 18 reciprocablein the cylinder. The piston I8 has a piston rod extendjing outwardlyfrom the cylinder and the piston is normally urged against the pressureof the lubricant in the main by a compression coil spring 82 which mayif desired be adjustably mounted so as to make it possible to vary itscompression. The piston stem 80 engages the contact arm 82, M of thecontact switch and moves the latter against the tension of a spring 84.It will be understood that the constructions disclosed in this application are merely diagrammatic and illustrate but one operative form ofmyinvention.

Assuming that the switch 54 has been closed to supply current to themotor and that the pressure in both 28 and 301s below the maximumpressure predetermined by the degree of compression of the springs 82 inthe pressure controlled switches, the motor 38 will commence operatingand'drive both compressors l0 and I2, gradually building up the pressurein the mains 28 and 38 to the predetermined maximum pressure. Should thelubricant from one of the compressors be used more rapidly than that ofthe other, the latter compressor will build up the I pressure in itsmainto'the predetermined maxiand open its pressure controlled switch 88 or88. The compressor operating against the high pressure in its main willof course require ahigher torque to operate it, and this. increasedtorque will be reflected to its beveld gear 50 or 52 so that the otherof these bevel gears'will be driven more rapidly because of thedifiere'ntial gear drive. When the pressure in both mains 28, 30 hasbeen built up to the predetermined maximumpressure, both pressure c0ntrolled switches 66, 88 will be open and the supply of current to themotor 38 interrupted. As soon as some lubricant is dispensed from one ofthe discharge conduits 32, and the pressure in the main to which suchconduit is connected is thus reduced, the pressure controlled switchconnected to this main will close and restart the motor 38.

It will thus be seen that with a single motor I can efilciently drivetwo lubricant compressors. The cost of the installation maybe decreasedwith a gain in the emciency of the installation as a whole. Sincelubricant is dispensed intermittently from the two mains, the motor willseldom have to drive both of the compressors simultaneously. Thus,except upon the chance occasions when lubricant is being dispensedsimultaneously from both mains, the full power of the motor will beavailable to drive one of the compressors and enable it rapidly to buildup, the pressure in its discharge main to the predetermined maximumpressure.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, mans modifications may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails set forth but desire to avail myself of all changes within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described "my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by LettersPatent of the United States, is:

1. In a lubricant supply installation for lubricating servicestations-and the like, the combination of a plurality of lubricantcompressors, an electric motor, a differential driving connectionbetween said motor and said compressors, a pressure controlled switchresponsive to-the pressure in the discharge line of each of saidcompressors, and conductors connecting said switches in parallel withsaid motor, whereby said motor will operate until the pressure in bothof the discharge mains of said compressors attains a predeterminedmaximum.

2. In combination, a plurality of lubricant compressors, a motor, adifferential driving connection between said motor and said compressors,pressure controlled elements responsive to the pressure in the dischargelines of said'compressors respectively, and means operated by saidelements efiective to control the operation of said motor, whereby saidmotor will operate until the pressure in the discharge mains of saidcompressors attains a predetermined maximum.

3. In combination, a plurality of lubricant compressors, a motor, asource of power for said motor, a difierential driving connectionbetween said motor and said compressors, a pressure controlled elementresponsive to the pressure in the discharge line of each of saidcompressors, and means controlled by' said' elements efiective tocontrol the supply of power to said motor, whereby said motor will besupplied with power until the pressures in both discharge mains of saidcompressors attain predetermined maximum values.

a. In a lubricant supply installation for lubricating service stationsand the like, the combination of a plurality of lubricant compressors,discharge mains connected to said compressors respectively, each of'said mains having a valve controlled outlet, an electric motor, adifierential driving connection between said motor and said compressors,pressure controlled switches responsive to the pressure in saiddischarge mains respectively, and parallel circuits each including oneof said switches and connecting said motor to a source of current,whereby said motor will operate until the pressure in both of saiddischarge mains attains a predetermined maximum value and willrecommence operation to drive either of said compressors when lubricantis dispensed from one of said outlets.

ERNEST W. DAVIS.

